Complete Mont Blanc summit packing list: what to pack for climbing Mont Blanc solo + unsupported

daypack (25–35L): Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)

I used the Osprey Talon 33, which was the perfect size for summit day— room for layers, crampons, water, snacks, and all my safety gear, without being bulky. Look for something with a supportive frame, ice axe loop, and easy-access outer storage.

mountaineering boots: La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX Boots (women’s) / (men’s)

These boots were perfect for Mont Blanc—lightweight yet supportive, stiff enough for crampons, and perfect for scrambling on rock. I wore them on both the approach and glacier and had no issues with the cold!

helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet (women’s) / (men’s)

Essential for glacier travel and the Grand Couloir crossing, where rockfall is a known hazard. I wore mine from the hut to the summit and back— lightweight, comfortable, and easy to strap to your pack when not in use.

ice axe: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe

Mont Blanc is a true glacier climb, and sections of the route are steep, icy, and exposed, so you’ll need to carry an ice axe from Refuge du Goûter to the summit and all the way back down. Especially if you’re climbing solo, but even as part of a rope team, you MUST know how confidently self-arrest for this climb!

crampons: Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons with ABS Plates

As with the ice axe, I used crampons from Refuge du Goûter to the summit and back. Strap-on crampons are ideal for lightweight mountaineering boots like the Trango Tech— secure, compatible, and dependable on hard snow, ice, and steeper sections of the glacier. Since you won’t put these on until after the Grand Couloir, aluminium crampons are theoretically fine, but steel are usually better overall if you’re investing in a pair.

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

Invaluable for both the approach and descent! I used both poles from the upper gondola station all the way to the hut, one pole for the entire glacier climb, and then both poles again on the descent from the hut.

glacier rope + harness (if you’re climbing with a team): Black Diamond 8.9mm Dry Rope (40m) + Black Diamond Couloir Harness

I climbed solo and didn’t carry a rope or harness, but if you’re part of a glacier rope team, you’ll need a lightweight alpine harness, a 30–40m rope, and basic crevasse rescue gear. Be sure to review glacier safety and rope protocols if you’re roped up!

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and it is essential for EVERY SINGLE SUMMIT. I carry a Garmin InReach Mini 2, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service. It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

🗺️ I built a custom Mont Blanc GPS map with a detailed track based on my summit itinerary and other essential navigational information to help you stay on track. For solo expeditions, this is essential!

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Ultralight .5

Solo on a glacier is no place to cut corners on safety— my kit was small but thoughtfully packed, with supplies for blisters, minor injuries, and emergency care in case I took a fall or had to wait for help. I also included a few things specific to altitude and energy crashes, just in case.

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

Essential for the midnight glacier crossing and navigating exposed terrain in the dark—I left Tête Rousse at 2:30am and climbed for 4hrs by headlamp before the sun rose. I highly recommend a rechargeable headlamp with at least 300 lumens to safely navigate the Grand Couloir, crevasses and exposed terrain in the dark.

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

Even on a quick 2-day climb, power is still a key piece of safety gear— your phone doubles as your GPS, your inReach is your lifeline for weather and comms, and your headlamp is essential for the early morning glacier crossing. I carried a 10,000mAh powerbank, which was plenty for the short push with a full charge at the start.

👉🏼 Want to see how we capture photos and videos on our adventures? Peak inside our camera bag!

sleep sack: Sea to Summit Silk + Cotton Liner

All of the alpine huts on Mont Blanc have blankets and mattresses, so you don’t need to carry a sleeping bag, but a liner is mandatory and they WILL check to see if you have one— if not, you’ll be purchasing some gross disposable human napkin to sleep on.

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

Even though all the French alpine huts do provide pillows, I find them rather lacklustre. This ultralight inflatable pillow packs down to nothing but makes a massive difference in sleep quality before a long summit day!

hut shoes: Mountain Hardwear Down Bootie

You’ll be required to remove your boots before entering the hut, and some do provide loaner Crocs, but it’s nice to have your own hut shoes!

toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for 2 days.

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

Huts don’t have potable water, so even though you’re sleeping indoors, a compact water filter is absolutely essential. Bottled water is sold for a shocking 10€ per litre, don’t be that person!

2x water bottles: Nalgene Wide Mouth

Reliable and easy to refill, I carried 2x wide-mouth water bottles, but adapt as needed based on your own water consumption.

electrolytes: Liquid IV

Essential to keep your energy up during summit day! When you’re working this hard, plain water simply doesn’t do the trick.

snacks

Most climbers opt for half-board in the huts, so you’ll get dinner and breakfast— just bring enough high-energy snacks for the approach and summit day.

👉🏼 Confused about what food to pack?! How to pack food for multi-day backcountry adventures: our tips for maximising calories & minimising weight

sports bra/shirt + hiking shorts for approach + underwear

I wore a sports bra and shorts for the 2hr approach to Tête Rousse hut from the top of the gondola— keep it light and breathable, and know that you’ll swap into warmer layers for the actual climb.

sun shirt for approach: Arc’teryx Taema Hoody (women’s) / Cormac Hoody (men’s)

Perfect for the hike in, this lightweight UPF-rated layer will keep sun off your arms and neck while still wicking sweat.

wool base layer: Smartwool Classic Thermal Base Layer Top (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to base for lounging around the hut and layering up for the summit push— it’s warm, breathable, and odour-resistant, which was great in the summer heat.

lightweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Rho LT Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore this as my second layer for the entire glacier climb. The close fit, fleece lining, and built-in balaclava hood were ideal for pulling over my nose and mouth in the cold, without fogging up my glasses.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

This was my outermost layer for the majority of summit day— perfect warmth for high-output climbing in freezing temps with minimal wind. It’s not bulky, breathes well, and layers comfortably.

mid-weight down jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

I packed this as my “just in case” piece and wore it during hut downtime and early morning prep, but it wasn’t cold enough for me to have this on while actually climbing.

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

Essential for wind, snow, and storm protection on the climb. I didn’t end up needing to wear my shell at all, but in the event of inclement weather, it could have been life-saving.

wool base layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Satoro Merino Wool Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore these under my Gamma Pants on summit day for just the right amount of warmth without overheating. Merino stayed comfy and dry even with sweat and stop-start movement on the glacier.

soft shell pants: Arc’teryx Gamma Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to glacier pant for Mont Blanc, these blocked wind, shed snow, and moved perfectly for hours of steady climbing. I wore these the entire summit push and never needed to add a hard shell.

sun hat: Arc’teryx Gamma 5-Panel Cap

I wore this for the hot hike to Tête Rousse—super breathable and quick-drying.

glacier glasses: Julbo Vermont

At altitude, the sun’s intensity is magnified by both the thin atmosphere and the reflection off the snow, exposing your eyes to extreme UV radiation that can cause snow blindness. Unlike regular sunglasses, glacier glasses have high-coverage lenses and side shields to block light from every angle, offering full protection. I wore mine from hut to summit and back, and they never left my face on the glacier.

neck gaiter: Buff Original

A super versatile piece I wore around my ears for extra warmth and wind protection throughout the entire climb.

leather mountaineering gloves: Outdoor Research Stormtracker Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

These were my main climbing gloves—windproof, dexterous enough to handle an ice axe, and warm enough for glacier travel before sunrise. I used hand warmers inside on the coldest part of summit day and my hands stayed happy.

liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew

I wore these under my boot socks to help prevent blisters and manage moisture, especially on the sweaty approach to the hut.

boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

I used one pair for the full 2-day climb, comfortable, warm, and blister-free!